Preventing glial cell graft rejection with a T cell-targeting immunotherapy

INDICATION: Neurology

Stimulating CTLA-4 signaling and inhibiting CD40L could prevent rejection of glial cell allografts for demyelinating diseases. In co-culture with primary mouse glial-restricted progenitor cells, T cells from mice treated with the CTLA-4-Ig fusion protein abatacept plus an anti-CD40L mAb proliferated less, indicating reduced anti-glial cell immune response, than T cells from untreated mice. The CTLA-4 and CD40L-based therapy extended survival of engrafted glial-restricted progenitor cells and promoted myelin sheath formation within the corpus callosum in a mouse model of demyelination...